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Fantasy Football with Ian Hartitz fantasy football takes on Colston Loveland
Every source-backed video insight STACKED has extracted from Fantasy Football with Ian Hartitz about Colston Loveland.
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Insights
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Insight ledger
All Fantasy Football with Ian Hartitz insights about Colston Loveland
NegativeInjuryOct 30, 2026
Bears tight end Colston Loveland was not listed on the injury report to start the week but was downgraded to limited participant on Friday due to a neck injury, creating significant concern ahead of the Seahawks matchup and leaving the Bears with a very rough tight end room.NegativeRoleOct 29, 2026
Loveland was drafted early in the offseason but struggled early in the season; his breakout against the Bengals came only after Cole Kmet was knocked out, and while he was on fire by year-end, that late-season success was not the rationale for the early draft capital investment.PositiveMatchupOct 22, 2026
Loveland has pretty good upcoming matchups moving forward (weeks 7-12). Based on averaging opponent rank and PPR points per game allowed to tight ends, Loveland's schedule is favorable.PositiveProjectionOct 22, 2026
Ian Hartitz ranks Colston Loveland as tight end 9 against the New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football, signaling a return to tight end one territory. Loveland caught 6 of 7 targets for 65 yards and a score last week and was wide open in the end zone on another play that Caleb Williams didn't connect on early enough. With a 50.5-point game total and a potential shootout between Drake May and Caleb Williams, Hartitz expects Loveland to be a big beneficiary of the game script. Loveland is pushing for five-plus targets every week and projects as a low-end tight end one in fantasy, though Hartitz acknowledges he won't be the clear number-one option he was drafted to be in round four. Loveland also has pretty good upcoming matchups moving forward (weeks 7-12).PositiveProjectionOct 19, 2026
Loveland posted 78% route share, 86% snap share, 21% target share, 7 targets (3 red zone), 1 TD, 6 rec/65 yards in Week 6—strong usage metrics and a step forward after Week 5 dud. Still ranked tight end 24 on the season and outscored by Darnell Washington, but the performance suggests a potential two-touchdown day was possible with better execution. Loveland is the tight end on the field most often for the Bears; he's a prospect showing real upside after strong performances at the end of last season. Patriots defense has been tough against tight ends recently, but if Loveland posts another good game next week, that would mark two out of three strong outings. The Bears' heavy tight end usage and limited full-time roles for Cole Burden and Rome Odunze (characterized as more of a "sacrificial axe") could support Loveland's continued involvement.PositiveRoleOct 12, 2026
Loveland caught 2 passes for 19 yards on 5 targets with a 79% route share but only 13% target share in Week 5. Ian Hartitz had him outside the top 12 tight ends this week and notes the production gap is concerning given his draft capital. While he still expects Loveland to finish as a top-12 tight end by year's end, the early-season small sample and current production do not match the top-5 tight end expectation from draft day. The mismatch between route participation and target allocation is the core issue.NegativeProjectionOct 8, 2026
Ian Hartitz ranks Colson Loveland as TE14. Bears offense looks good despite Case Keenum taking first snap in Week 1. Loveland had 6 catches for 57 yards on 9 targets last week. Hartitz believes Loveland is very good at football and would crack top 12 if not for Higbee's situation lasting another week or two. Projects Loveland to be a comfortable top-10 tight end by season's end, though questions whether he reaches the top-3 heights some experts predicted. Hartitz notes this ranking does not justify a fourth-round draft pick.NegativeProjectionSep 25, 2026
Ranked in Ian Hartitz's tight end tier just behind Terrence Ferguson and ahead of Sam Laaporta and Isaiah Likely.NegativeBustSep 24, 2026
Hartitz ranks Loveland TE12 against the Eagles on Monday Night Football and expresses strong skepticism about his week 3 outlook. Through two weeks, Loveland has produced only three scoreless yards, a significant underperformance. While Loveland was a 10th overall pick last year with per-route efficiency numbers as good as any rookie in the last decade except Brock Bowers, his suboptimal QB situation (Tabag or 38-year-old Case Keenum) and poor early production complicate his outlook. Hartitz notes the Eagles' strong defensive scheme and talent (Cooper Dean in the middle of the field) as additional reasons not to trust Loveland. He would move Mark Andrews and Jake Ferguson ahead of Loveland if certain conditions are met, and acknowledges that calling Loveland 'a fraud' would be an understandable perspective.NegativeUsageSep 21, 2026
Colson Loveland is being downgraded after his route share dropped from 89% to 71% due to increased rotation. Ian Hartitz notes that while he remains a talented player, he can no longer be ranked as a top-three tight end following a two-week stretch with only one catch for three yards.PositiveRoleSep 17, 2026
Colston Loveland tied Cole Kmet for the Bears' highest route rate at 88% in week one despite a zero-point performance. Ian Hartitz stresses that the Bears scored 59 points and Caleb Williams looked like an MVP candidate; the week-one failure was an outlier and Loveland's role as a primary target remains intact.NegativeRoleSep 16, 2026
Had an average route depth of 8.3 yards in Week 1, placing him between Cole Burton (7.6) and Rome Odunze (11), indicating a balanced role in the Bears offense.PositiveBustSep 14, 2026
Ian Hartitz admits he was wrong for recommending Colston Loveland as a draft target, noting that his performance in the first week did not meet expectations.NegativeValueSep 10, 2026
Colston Loveland has been going around round 4-5 in drafts. Ian Hartitz mentions Loveland's ADP in the context of tight end alternatives post-Bowers injury, though provides no specific take on his value or outlook.PositiveRoleAug 30, 2026
JJ Zachariason secures Colston Loveland as an early-round tight end in the Sleeper mock draft, noting that getting an early tight end at this position allows him to pivot away from other tight end options and focus on other roster needs.PositiveProjectionAug 30, 2026
JJ Zachariason selected Colson Loveland at tight end in round 4, describing him as 'looking like an absolute dog this season' and highlighting that getting Loveland in round 4 is a feasible strategy from the 12th draft position that provides flexibility with early RB selections.PositiveRoleAug 24, 2026
Benefits from Chicago's expected heavy multi-tight end personnel usage; Ian Hartitz projects 43% multi-tight end formations in preseason week 2 (up from 33% last year) and notes that Cole Kmet will likely play more snaps than Khalif Raymond, meaning Loveland and other tight ends will compete for targets against fewer wide receiver threats, which is positive for tight end target share. Found on two of five pass downs with Caleb Williams in preseason week 2, getting decent gains. Caught a short pass for 14-15 yards but took a brutal hip drop tackle on the sideline; remained in the game with no postgame injury reported. Mentioned as a round-4 tight end target that Hartitz has not been able to secure in drafts, suggesting he is being drafted earlier than Hartitz prefers.PositiveValueAug 22, 2026
Zachariason targets Loveland in round three or four when picking at the end of round one, embracing a 'Ricky Bobby first or last' tight end strategy that avoids mid-round tight end shots; Loveland sets up great if picking out of the turn.NegativeInjuryAug 21, 2026
Ian Hartitz selected Colston Loveland in round four of a Yahoo mock draft from the 10-6 position but expressed regret about the pick due to a toe injury concern, noting he should have selected Mecca Ibuka instead because of Loveland's health status. However, in other draft contexts, Hartitz expressed enthusiasm about securing Loveland in round four, calling him elite value at tight end and noting he's one of only two early-round tight ends (alongside Brock Bowers) he's willing to break the late-round TE strategy for.PositiveValueAug 20, 2026
Ian Hartitz's favorite pick in round four. Loveland was featured heavily by the Bears down the stretch, recording 48 targets in the final four games (week 17 through divisional round), 21 more targets than Caleb Williams' next most targeted receiver Luther Burton. With Roma Dun sidelined for two of those games and DJ Moore now gone, Loveland projects as the number one pass game option in an ascending Ben Johnson-Caleb Williams offense. Hartitz prioritizes Loveland in round four if Brock Bowers is unavailable in round two, citing the tight end position's lack of depth. Loveland competes for targets with Cole Kmet rather than multiple wide receivers, maximizing his target opportunity. Hartitz prefers Loveland to Luther Burden straight up and targets him in round four rather than round five.PositiveValueAug 16, 2026
Ian Hartitz expresses a preference for drafting Colston Loveland in the fourth round, viewing him as a valuable target in that range.PositiveValueAug 12, 2026
Colston Loveland is a round-three or round-four tight end target in RB-RB draft strategies for late-draft-position teams. JJ Zachariason targets him as the ideal fit for the round three-four turn, positioning him as an elite tight end option that allows flexibility at WR in subsequent rounds. He previously drafted Loveland in round four and is comfortable with late-round tight end strategies in subsequent drafts.PositiveValueAug 11, 2026
Ian Hartitz identifies Colston Loveland as a preferred target if he misses out on Brock Bowers, indicating he is a priority over Sam LaPorta at current draft costs.PositiveValueAug 1, 2026
Ian Hartitz prefers drafting Colston Loveland over Trey McBride, noting that while the decision is a coin flip, he favors Loveland's outlook and cost. Hartitz also categorizes Loveland as a tight end two option for fantasy purposes.PositiveRoleJul 24, 2026
Colston Loveland is established as the tight end in the Chicago Bears offense and expected to be a key target for Caleb Williams; in an offense where Williams could theoretically throw for over 4,000 yards with Ben Johnson's play-calling, Loveland should be a focal point if the offense consolidates around primary receivers.PositiveRoleJul 16, 2026
The analyst is still deciding when and if to draft Colston Loveland in their draft strategy, indicating uncertainty about his role and timing.PositiveProjectionJul 16, 2026
Colston Loveland is expected to be available in round four, allowing drafters to wait on tight end production.NegativeProjectionJul 15, 2026
Colston Loveland was not selected in this zero-RB draft, and the analyst was surprised he went as early as he did in the mock draft system.PositiveValueJul 15, 2026
Analyst recommends drafting Colston Loveland early at TE and not worrying about a backup, as you can figure out bye week coverage later.PositiveRoleJul 15, 2026
Colston Loveland is a key target in zero-RB drafts, being selected in round four as a tight end with significant upside comparable to Brock Bowers.PositiveProjectionNo date
Loveland is positioned in the bottom left of Hartitz's per-route efficiency chart (25+ routes, 8+ targets qualifier), indicating underperformance in yards and targets per route run relative to other tight ends. Hartitz notes Loveland had fewer than 3 yards last week and on the first drive. Loveland is struggling significantly in efficiency metrics; even if he had scored a near-touchdown catch last week, he would have finished as tight end 12 for the week, illustrating how far behind he is in production. Loveland has been performing worse than Tyler Warren, with both among the only tight ends with 8+ targets averaging under 5 yards per target. Loveland and Cole Kmet are mere inches away from scoring touchdowns against the Jets, nearly finishing as tight end 12, but Hartitz expresses frustration about being a 'Cole Kmet and Loveland truther' at this point; ranked tight end 19.PositiveValueNo date
Hartitz advocated for a 'double tap' strategy on Loveland in the second round, citing his target share over his last five games as a starter matching Trey McBride's full-year target share; Hartitz and Silva ranked Loveland over McBride in a vacuum, positioning him as a unique board advantage over the typical Derrick Henry selection at that range. Loveland was also selected as a second-round pick in a tight-end-premium league format (FFP streets draft) and positioned as a full-time flex starter alongside Brock Bowers, with potential for a Bears stack if Roma Downey returns to the team.NegativeBreakoutNo date
Bears TE with cautious outlook despite top-10 offense projection. Ian Hartitz expresses optimism about Loveland but questions whether the young Bears receivers are ready to shoulder the load, suggesting they may not instantly become all-stars despite the team's top-10 offensive ranking. Bears traded DJ Moore to the Bills and replaced him with Xavian Thomas and Khif Raymond, creating a significant downgrade at WR.PositiveValueNo date
JJ Zachariason ranks Colston Loveland as tight end two and strongly prefers drafting him over Trey McBride due to cost advantage; Loveland typically goes in round four while McBride goes in round two or three. Zachariason states he is 'not in the minority' in preferring Loveland to McBride and describes the scoring potential between them as 'a coin flip'—indicating Loveland has comparable upside to McBride despite being ranked second at tight end. Zachariason's ranking is designed to communicate his desire to draft Loveland early at his lower cost.PositiveRoleNo date
Rookie tight end drafted early by Chicago under Ben Johnson in year one; worked into the offense as the season progressed and led the team in targets down the stretch; positioned to lead his team in targets in year two with the passing attack built around him and fellow early pick Luther Bird.PositiveProjectionNo date
Fantasy Points' Ryan Heath believes Loveland could reach consensus dynasty tight end one status by next year. From week 15 onward, Loveland led the Bears in targets per route run and fantasy points per route run on a much higher route participation rate than Luther Burden, making him the better version of the Burden bet. Heath has advocated for Loveland ahead of Burden throughout the offseason and is most interested in drafting him as the early-round tight end across all platforms. Loveland has real insulation relative to Bears wide receivers; there is a genuine chance he leads all Bears pass catchers in routes this year given the team's commitment to multi-tight-end sets (12 or 13 personnel) and lack of a serious wide receiver three option to replace DJ Moore. At the end of last year in heavy multi-tight-end sets, Loveland averaged over four yards per route run and a 50% receiving yards market share, suggesting the offense could look like that from week one forward. In a draft scenario where you can choose between Brock Bowers at the end of round two or Colson Loveland at the end of round four, Heath would take Loveland every time, viewing the later-round selection as the better value proposition. Ian Hartitz is ranking Loveland ahead of Trey McBride in tight end draft rankings, signaling preference for Loveland's value proposition over McBride's round-three pricing.PositiveValueNo date
Loveland is mentioned alongside Bowers and Warren as a quality tight end option, though the analyst prefers a late-round tight end approach overall for better roster construction.PositiveValueNo date
Loveland is considered as a potential late-round target in tight end-heavy drafts when top WR and RB options are depleted, offering a way to make up ground at a position with a gap in depth.PositiveValueNo date
Colston Loveland is considered as an alternative tight end option when there's a gap at wide receiver and running back, allowing the analyst to make up ground in draft strategy.